June 7, 2024 – High levels of xylitol, a low-calorie sweetener utilized in many reduced-sugar foods in addition to chewing gum and toothpaste, are linked to an increased risk of heart attacks, strokes and death, in response to a brand new study published within the European Heart Journal.
The research team studied greater than 3,000 people within the United States and Europe over three years and located that folks with the best levels of xylitol of their plasma were more more likely to suffer from heart or vascular problems.
To reveal the early effects of xylitol, researchers examined platelet activity in volunteers who consumed a xylitol-sweetened beverage and a glucose-sweetened beverage. Xylitol levels increased 1,000-fold in people after the xylitol beverage, but not after the glucose-sweetened beverage.
Xylitol occurs naturally in small amounts in vegatables and fruits and has been increasingly used over the past decade as a sugar substitute in processed foods, toothpaste, chewing gum and other products.
“This study again demonstrates the urgent need to investigate sugar alcohols and artificial sweeteners, especially as they continue to be recommended to combat diseases such as obesity or diabetes,” said Dr. Stanley Hazen, chief of the Division of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Sciences on the Cleveland Clinic's Lerner Research Institute, in a press release.
“This doesn't mean you have to throw away your toothpaste if it contains xylitol, but we should be aware that consuming a product high in xylitol can increase the risk of blood clots.”
An identical link between erythritol, one other sugar substance, and heart and vascular problems was found last 12 months by the identical research team, the press release said.
In response to the study, the Calorie Control Council, a trade association representing the low-calorie and reduced-calorie food and beverage industry, said xylitol has been approved by government agencies for a long time. The study results might not be applicable to the final population because a few of the people studied have already got a better risk of heart and vascular problems, it said.